Arroyo likely knew ‘cash gifts’ were given
A
senator on Wednesday expressed belief that President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo was aware that "cash gifts" were distributed among congressmen
and local government executives last month in Malacañang, during the
height of calls for her impeachment.
This, as the Senate set for next week the start of hearings on the "cash gift" controversy.
Senator
Richard Gordon, who ran under the administration ticket in 2004, said
Mrs Arroyo who heads the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) was
likely to have knowledge on the distribution of cash gifts.
House
Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Kampi secratary, earlier admitted
that cash gifts distributed to various local government officials were
from Kampi’s funds.
"It is hard to believe that money, from
200,000 pesos to 500,000 pesos were being distributed without anyone
telling anyone what it was for and where it had come from," Gordon said.
"It
is even harder to believe that the President, who we assume is also the
leader of Kampi, did not know that money was being distributed like
rain or sunshine," he added.
Gordon said Villarosa’s admission
"puts to light the basest manifestation of our transactional political
culture and should challenge our people to rise up to make political
parties more accountable for their actions."
"We can’t say that
what had transpired in Malacanang was bribery or an attempt to secure
some kind of action in return for a generous sum of money. However,
millions of pesos changed hands under circumstances where the resident
of Malacañang was being assailed by scandals and an impeachment
complaint had just been filed," Gordon said.
The administration
senator said that in light of the cash gift scandal, he would push for
a legislation to compel political organization to divulge the sources
of their funds and how these funds were disposed.
"The bigger
aspect and the wider view of this action is to craft a body of laws
that will make political parties more accountable for their actions and
win for everyone a chance to sow the seeds of transforming our rotting
political culture," he said. - GMANews.TV
Arroyo likely knew ‘cash gifts’ were given -Gordon
Posted November 7, 2007, 5:57 pm
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/67662/Arroyo-likely-knew-cash-gifts-were-given–Gordon
